Service validation of corrosive wear synergy

Many laboratory studies have been conducted describing the synergistic effects of corrosion and wear. It is a more challenging endeavor to validate the laboratory testing to real world service performance. This paper will attempt to document the field experience of stainless steels versus carbon steels since work first published in 1984 and at the 1985 Wear of Materials Conference. Measurement of the wear rates of large, industrial structures is difficult at best. While two of the presented case studies rely more on anecdotal evidence than scientific data, the results are no less valid to the end user who takes on the risk of switching to a less known entity. The fact that materials were replaced with newer technology attests to the perceived validity of the studies.